Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1. We ………………………. each other since our school days.
We normally use the present perfect or past perfect tense with since.
2. They had been close friends since Janet …………………. small.
A past tense can be used in the since-clause depending upon the meaning.
3. In my opinion, too ………………………… mathematics is taught in schools.
The words mathematics, physics and politics are singular countable and have no plural forms. Hence we use much with them.
4. Politics ………………………… a dirty game.
Politics is normally used as a singular uncountable noun.
5. The unemployment statistics …………………………. disturbing.
While statistics is usually singular, it does have a plural use.
6. Cattle …………………………… dying due to drought.
Cattle is a plural word and hence it takes a plural verb.
7. They have a house on the ………………………… of the city.
Outskirts is usually plural and has no singular form.
8. They are raising ………………………….. for disadvantaged children.
Funds means money.
9. My …………………………. too tight.
The noun trousers is always used in the singular form.
10. If I were in that situation, I would scream until somebody …………………………. to help me.
Would and should are mainly used in main clauses. To express the same idea we use a past tense in the subordinate clauses.
11. A couple of my friends ……………………………. visiting us today.
Plural verbs are used after expressions like a couple of + plural noun.
12. Half of his students …………………………. understand his theories.
We use a plural verb after half of.
Answers
1. We have known each other since our school days.
2. They had been close friends since Janet was small.
3. In my opinion, too much mathematics is taught in schools.
4. Politics is a dirty game.
5. The unemployment statistics are disturbing.
6. Cattle are dying due to drought.
7. They have a house on the outskirts of the city.
8. They are raising funds for disadvantaged children.
9. My trousers are too tight.
10. If I were in that situation, I would scream until somebody came to help me.
11. A couple of my friends are visiting us today.
12. Half of his students don’t understand his theories.
